Determining information for tracking user device

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided for receiving, by an apparatus, a first direct transmission from a wireless device in at least one first downlink transmission period; receiving, by the apparatus, a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via the user equipment to be tracked in at least one second downlink transmission period; determining, by the apparatus, information related to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the apparatus and the wireless device; determining, by the apparatus, information related to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information related to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment; and transmitting, by the apparatus, information related to the second wireless channel to the wireless device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various example embodiments involve determining information for tracking user devices. Background Technology

[0002] Tracking User Equipment (UE) can be beneficial, or even mandatory, for various applications in wireless communication networks. For example, in the case of cellular communication networks, radio frequency (RF) signals can be used to track the UE. Enhanced methods, apparatus, and computer programs related to UE tracking are needed, at least in cellular communication networks (such as networks operating under the 3GPP standards). Such enhancements may also be beneficial in other wireless communication networks. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The subject matter of the independent claims is provided in several respects. Several example embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0004] The scope of protection sought by the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is set forth in the independent claims. Exemplary embodiments and features (if any) described in this specification that do not fall within the scope of the independent claims are to be construed as examples useful for understanding the various exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising: at least one processing core; at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receive a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first downlink transmission period; receive a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second downlink transmission period; determine information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the apparatus and the wireless device; determine information relating to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information relating to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment; and transmit the information relating to the second wireless channel to the wireless device.

[0006] Example embodiments of the first aspect may include at least one feature from the following bulleted list or any combination of the following features: When the stored instructions are executed by at least one processor, the device also causes the device to at least: receive a first direct transmission during at least one first downlink transmission time period during the channel coherence time of the first wireless channel, and receive a second direct transmission and indirect transmission during at least one second downlink transmission time period. The at least one first downlink transmission time period for the first direct transmission and the at least one second downlink transmission time period for the second direct and indirect transmission are configured with respect to the time selectivity of the first wireless channel. When the stored instructions are executed by at least one processor, the device also causes the device to at least: receive a first direct transmission during at least one first downlink transmission time period during the sampling time of the device, and receive a second direct transmission and indirect transmission during at least one second downlink transmission time period. The first and second direct transmissions are beamformed into coverage devices and user equipment; The device is another user equipment, and the wireless device is a wireless network node; The stored instructions, when executed by at least one processor, also cause the device to at least: receive from a wireless device a configuration for receiving transmissions during at least one first downlink transmission period and at least one second downlink transmission period.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising: at least one processing core; at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receive a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first uplink transmission period; receive a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second uplink transmission period; determine information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the apparatus and the wireless device; determine information relating to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information relating to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the apparatus and the user equipment; and use the information relating to the second wireless channel to track the user equipment.

[0008] Example embodiments of the second aspect may include at least one feature from the following bulleted list or any combination of the following features: When the stored instructions are executed by at least one processor, the device also causes the device to at least: receive a first direct transmission during at least one first uplink transmission time period during the channel coherence time of the first wireless channel, and receive a second direct transmission and indirect transmission during at least one second uplink transmission time period. The at least one first uplink transmission time period for the first direct transmission and the at least one second uplink transmission time period for the second direct and indirect transmissions are configured with respect to the time selectivity of the first channel. When the stored instructions are executed by at least one processor, the device also causes the device to at least: receive a first direct transmission during at least one first uplink transmission time period during the sampling time of the device, and receive a second direct transmission and indirect transmission during at least one second uplink transmission time period. The first and second direct transmissions are beamformed to cover wireless devices and user equipment; The device is a wireless network node, and the wireless device is another user device; When executed by at least one processor, the stored instructions also cause the device to at least: send to the wireless device a configuration for transmission during at least one first uplink transmission period and at least one second uplink transmission period; When executed by at least one processor, the stored instructions also cause the device to at least: receive information relating to a third channel, wherein the third channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment to be tracked; and determine information relating to a second wireless channel based on the information relating to the third channel.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the invention, a method is provided, comprising: receiving by means of a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least a first downlink transmission period; receiving by means of a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least a second downlink transmission period; determining by means of means of information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between means of means and the wireless device; determining by means of means of means of information relating to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information relating to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment; and transmitting by means of means of means of means of information relating to the second wireless channel to the wireless device.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method is provided, comprising: receiving by means of a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least a first uplink transmission period; receiving by means of a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least a second uplink transmission period; determining by means of means of information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between means of means and the wireless device; determining by means of means of means of information relating to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information relating to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between means of means and the user equipment; and using by means of ...

[0011] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising: means for receiving a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least a first downlink transmission period; means for receiving a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least a second downlink transmission period; means for determining information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the apparatus and the wireless device; means for determining information relating to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information relating to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment; and means for transmitting information relating to the second wireless channel to the wireless device.

[0012] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising: means for receiving a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least a first uplink transmission period; means for receiving a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least a second uplink transmission period; means for determining information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the apparatus and the wireless device; means for determining information relating to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information relating to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the apparatus and the user equipment; and means for using the information relating to the second wireless channel to track the user equipment.

[0013] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided, having stored thereon a computer-readable instruction set, which, when executed by at least one processor, causes a device to perform at least a first method. According to an eighth aspect of the invention, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided, having stored thereon a computer-readable instruction set, which, when executed by at least one processor, causes a device to perform at least a second method.

[0014] According to a ninth aspect of the invention, a computer program is provided, comprising instructions that, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform a first method. According to a tenth aspect of the invention, a computer program is provided, comprising instructions that, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform a second method. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 Examples of network scenarios according to at least some example embodiments are shown; Figure 2 A first signaling diagram according to at least some example embodiments is shown; Figure 3 A second signaling diagram according to at least some example embodiments is shown; Figure 4 A third signaling diagram according to at least some example embodiments is shown; Figure 5 An example apparatus capable of supporting at least some of the example embodiments is shown; Figure 6 A flowchart of a first method according to at least some example embodiments is shown; Figure 7 A flowchart of a second method according to at least some example embodiments is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Embodiments of this disclosure provide enhancements for tracking a User Equipment (UE). More specifically, embodiments of this disclosure provide enhancements for tracking a UE in scenarios where the UE to be tracked does not send a tracking signal to a radio network node configured to track the UE. The UE to be tracked may forward and / or reflect radio frequency (RF) signals, thereby generating an indirect transmission. The radio network node can then receive or determine information related to the channel between the UE to be tracked and the radio network node, at least based on the indirect transmission. Thus, UE tracking can be achieved without allocating network capacity for a dedicated tracking signal. Alternatively, the forwarded and / or reflected RF signals (which may carry data) can be used for tracking.

[0017] Figure 1 Examples of network scenarios according to at least some example embodiments are shown. Figure 1In an example scenario, a communication system may exist, comprising a primary UE 110, a secondary UE 112, a radio network node 120, and a core network element 130. The primary UE 110 and secondary UE 112 can connect to the radio network node 120 via air interface 115 and can also connect to each other. Connections between UEs and / or between a UE and node 120 can be bidirectional, or in some cases, at least some connections can be unidirectional. For example, in some examples, secondary UE 112 can be configured to receive information from radio network node 120 but not to send information to radio network node 120. UEs 110 and 112 can connect to radio network node 120 and may connect to each other, for example, by using multiple beams simultaneously or one at a time. That is, air interface 115 can be a beam-based air interface.

[0018] Although the terms "primary UE" and "secondary UE" are used as examples, the primary UE 110 may also be referred to as the first UE, and the secondary UE 112 may also be referred to as the second UE. In some example embodiments, the secondary UE 112 may be referred to as a UE, and the primary UE 110 may be referred to as another UE. In some example embodiments, the secondary UE 112 may be referred to as a linked UE. Alternatively or additionally, the secondary UE 112 may be configured as a smart reflective surface IRS.

[0019] At least in the case of downlink transmission, the primary UE 110 can be referred to as an apparatus, and the wireless network node 120 can be referred to as a wireless device. At least in the case of uplink transmission, the wireless network node 120 can be referred to as an apparatus, and the primary UE 110 can be referred to as a wireless device.

[0020] UEs 110 and 112 may include, for example, smartphones, cellular phones, machine-to-machine (M2M) nodes, machine-type communication (MTC) nodes, Internet of Things (IoT) nodes (e.g., IoT devices), automotive telemetry units, laptops, tablets, or virtually any suitable wireless terminal. For example, primary UE 110 may be a cellular phone, and secondary UE 112 may be a secondary device connected to primary UE 110, such as smart glasses or a wristwatch. In one embodiment, primary UE 112 may be a RedCap UE. In another embodiment, primary UE 110 may be a non-RedCap UE, and secondary UE 112 may be a RedCap UE. Wireless network node 120 may be considered a serving node for UEs 110 and 112, and a cell of wireless network node 120 may be a serving cell for UEs 110 and 112.

[0021] The primary UE 110 can be configured to transmit RF signals to and receive RF signals from the wireless network node 120 and the secondary UE 112. The secondary UE 112 may have the capability to forward and / or reflect RF signals from the primary UE 110 back to the wireless network node 120, enabling it to receive indirect transmissions from the primary UE 110 at the wireless network node 120. The secondary UE 112 may also have the capability to forward and / or reflect RF signals from the wireless network node 120 back to the primary UE 110, enabling it to receive indirect transmissions from the wireless network node 120 at the primary UE 110.

[0022] The air interface between UEs 110 and 112 and the wireless network node 120 can be configured according to a Radio Access Technology (RAT), and both UE 110 and wireless network node 120 are configured to support the RAT. Examples of cellular RATs include Long Term Evolution (LTE), New Radio (NR), which can also be referred to as 5G Radio Access Technology, and MulteFire.

[0023] For example, in the context of LTE, Radio Network Node 120 may be referred to as an eNB, while in the context of NR, Radio Network Node 120 may be referred to as a gNB. In some example embodiments, Radio Network Node 120 may be referred to as a Transmit and Receive Point (TRP), or multiple TRPs that can be co-located or non-co-located. In any case, the example embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to any particular wireless technology. Rather, the example embodiments can be utilized in any wireless communication system where it would be beneficial to track UEs (such as linked UEs) that cannot actively transmit RF signals.

[0024] Example embodiments of this disclosure may relate to, for example, joint / integrated communication and sensing J / ICAS technology. Such technology can be utilized in at least 5G and 6G networks. In the case of J / ICAS, RF signals intended for data transmission can also be used to track the secondary UE 112. Tracking may include detecting and locating the secondary UE 112. The secondary UE 112 may be a forwarding UE (which detects incoming signals and forwards them). A key benefit of J / ICAS is its non-intrusiveness.

[0025] Sensing and communication can share the same frequency bands and hardware. As wireless communication technologies (such as massive MIMO) continue to evolve, employing more antenna elements and wider bandwidths in higher frequency bands (e.g., millimeter-wave bands), these technologies may become reliant on increasingly specific and accurate auxiliary information. Such auxiliary information can include, for example, the distance (range), angle, instantaneous velocity, and area of ​​various objects (such as UEs). Meanwhile, wireless sensing technology aims to acquire information about remote objects without physical contact. The sensed data of the object and its surrounding environment can then be used for analysis, enabling the acquisition of meaningful information about the object and its characteristics with high resolution and reliable accuracy. Leveraging the advantages of wireless sensing technology is expected to benefit the future development of wireless communication technologies; therefore, the integration of sensing and communication is necessary.

[0026] Sensing services are likely to be beneficial, at least for smart transportation, aviation, enterprises, smart cities, smart homes, smart factories, consumer applications, and the public sector. Furthermore, sensing wireless systems that rely on the same wireless communication systems and infrastructure can provide sensing information. This sensing information can be used to assist wireless communication functions such as radio resource management, interference mitigation, beam management, and mobility. When wireless sensing and wireless communication are integrated into the same wireless channel or environment, greater efficiency can be achieved for both sensing services and sensing-assisted communication.

[0027] Tethered UEs can be used, for example, in a tethered XR architecture where UEs can collaborate on a single service, where all UEs may be connected to wireless network node 120, and all UEs may also be connected to each other. UE interconnection can be a 3GPP sidelink, but it can also be a wireless LAN (WLAN), or some other non-3GPP connection, for example. As another example, in industrial IoT, larger machines can integrate multiple UEs into their host to support various autonomous functions or simply for redundancy.

[0028] In the case of J / ICAS, for example, the primary UE 110 or radio network node 120 may need to simultaneously perform data transmission (uplink, downlink, or sidelink) and track one or more targets (e.g., other UEs, pedestrians, moving objects, etc.). The same time, frequency, and spatial resources can be used for both data transmission and target tracking. The challenge lies in achieving simultaneous data transmission and target tracking.

[0029] Therefore, embodiments of this disclosure enable simultaneous data transmission and target tracking, for example, in connected XR scenarios. For instance, in some embodiments, a primary UE 110 receiving downlink data from radio network node 120 can also track connected XR glasses UEs, such as a secondary UE 112. The primary UE 110 can track connected UEs while it is receiving downlink data from radio network node 120. Although time slots are used in various example embodiments, embodiments of this disclosure are generally applicable to any transmission time period (e.g., a time slot can be an example of a transmission time period), i.e., not limited to time slots. That is, a time slot does not necessarily refer to an NR time slot. Instead, a time slot can refer to only a few symbols, such as a set of symbols or transmission opportunities.

[0030] In some example embodiments, the wireless network node 120 may be configured with subframes, such as J / ICAS subframes. A subframe may include interleaved first downlink time slots (D-slots) and second downlink time slots, such as downlink relay time slots (DR-slots). The first downlink time slot (D-slot) may carry downlink signals, while the wireless network node 120 may continue downlink transmission during the second time slot (DR-slot), during which the secondary UE 112 may forward downlink transmissions to the primary UE 110.

[0031] Primary UE 110 can be configured to receive a first direct transmission from radio network node 120 in at least one downlink time slot (e.g., one or more first time slots, which may be referred to as one or more D-slots). Primary UE 110 can also be configured to receive a second direct transmission from radio network node 120 in at least one other downlink time slot (e.g., one or more second time slots, which may be referred to as one or more DR-slots), as well as indirect transmissions of the second direct transmission from radio network node 120 via secondary UE 112 to be tracked. For example, primary UE 110 can receive a hybrid DL subframe including (multiple) D-slots and (multiple) DR-slots, and use (multiple) D-slots to learn the response of the direct first downlink channel (i.e., the channel between primary UE 110 and radio network node 120). After learning the direct first channel, primary UE 110 can use this learning and DR-slots to learn the response of the channel between secondary UE 112 and radio network node 120. Prior knowledge of the cascading channel (i.e., the channel between primary UE 110 and secondary UE 112) can be assumed. Primary UE 110 can then report information related to the channel between secondary UE 112 and wireless network node 120 to wireless network node 120. In some example embodiments, secondary UE 112 can be configured to relay the DR-slot to primary UE 110, for example, by amplifying and forwarding the transmission of RF signals in the DR-slot.

[0032] As used in this disclosure, receiving one or more time slots can mean: receiving information or data transmitted from a sending entity in one or more time slots by a receiving entity (e.g., receiving one or more transmissions).

[0033] The wireless network node 120 can then use information related to the channel between the secondary UE 112 and the wireless network node 120 (i.e., indirect DL channel reports) to track the secondary UE 112.

[0034] In some example embodiments, the primary UE 110 may perform channel estimation to determine information (C1) related to a first channel, which lies between the primary UE 110 and the radio network node 120. The information related to the first channel may include everything required for on-the-fly data decoding, and also includes optional information such as the angle of arrival. For example, the complete estimated impulse response of the first channel may be reported to the radio network node 120. The primary UE may locally store the information related to the first channel for use in a second DR-slot. For example, the primary UE 110 may store the estimated channel impulse response.

[0035] In the second DR-slot, the primary UE 110 can receive a superposition (C) of the second direct transmission (direct from the radio network node 120 to the primary UE 110) and the indirect transmission of the second direct transmission via the secondary UE 112. The primary UE 110 can then determine the indirect path (C2 = C - C1), where the indirect path includes a second channel and a third channel, where the second channel is between the radio network node 120 and the secondary UE 112, and where the third channel is between the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112. Therefore, C2 can be a channel impulse response, but a composite impulse response, as it includes information related to the second and third channels. The primary UE 110 knows the third channel (Cth), so the unknown channel will be the fourth channel (Ctrack), where the fourth channel is between the secondary UE 112 and the radio network node 120. Therefore, the primary UE 110 can determine information related to the second channel (Ctrack = C - C1 - Cth). The information related to the second channel can be an impulse response, including, for example, delay information. Alternative or additional locations, information relating to the second channel may include the angle of arrival and / or the angle of departure.

[0036] In some example embodiments, this process can be similarly applied to the uplink, where the wireless network node 120 can receive data from the primary UE 110 while the wireless network node 120 can simultaneously track the secondary UE 112.

[0037] Figure 2 A first signaling diagram according to at least some example embodiments is shown. The signaling is arranged from left to right on the vertical axis. Figure 1 The wireless network node 120, primary UE 110, and secondary UE 112. Time progresses from top to bottom. Figure 2 In the example, the primary UE 110 can be referred to as a device, and the wireless network node 120 can be referred to as a wireless device.

[0038] At step 202, the radio network node 120 may initiate a communication session toward the primary UE 110, such as J / ICAS. At step 204, the radio network node 120 may send a configuration to the primary UE 110, wherein the configuration may be used to receive at least one first downlink slot (D-slot) and at least one second downlink slot (DR-slot).

[0039] At step 206, the radio network node 120 may send a configuration to the secondary UE 112, which includes or indicates a policy or rule for forwarding transmissions to the primary UE 110 in at least one second time slot (i.e., DR-slot) (i.e., forwarding DR-slots initially intended for the primary UE 110). In some example embodiments, the primary UE 110 may perform tethered link estimation, i.e., determine information related to the channel between the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112.

[0040] At step 208, the radio network node 120 may send a first direct transmission to the primary UE 110 in at least one first time slot (D-slot). At step 210, the first direct transmission may also reach the secondary UE 112. At step 212, the secondary UE 112 may take no action and remain silent (e.g., determine not to take action and remain silent). The secondary UE 112 may receive its own data in this time slot independently of the J / ICAS session. For example, the configuration received by the secondary UE 112 at step 206 may instruct the secondary UE 112 not to forward the transmission received in at least one first time slot (D-slot). Therefore, the secondary UE 112 may, based on this configuration, not forward the first direct transmission to the UE 110. For example, the secondary UE 112 may, based on this configuration (of step 206), determine not to forward the first direct transmission.

[0041] In step 214, the primary UE 110 may determine information related to a first wireless channel (or simply the first channel) based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the primary UE 110 and the wireless network node 120. The channel estimation process may be performed by the primary UE 110, thus the primary UE 110 may learn or update its knowledge or information related to the first wireless channel between the primary UE 110 and the wireless network node 120. That is, the channel estimation process may be performed based on the first direct transmission to obtain information related to the first wireless channel.

[0042] At step 216, radio network node 120 may transmit a second direct transmission in at least one second downlink time slot (DR-slot). At step 218, the second direct transmission may also reach secondary UE 112. At step 220, secondary UE 112 may activate relay functionality. At step 222, secondary UE 112 may relay the second direct transmission to primary UE 110. Therefore, primary UE 110 may receive indirect transmissions from radio network node 120 via secondary UE 112. At least one first downlink time slot for the first direct transmission and at least one second downlink time slot for the second direct and indirect transmissions may be received by primary UE 110 within the channel coherence time.

[0043] In step 224, the primary UE 110 can determine information related to a second wireless channel (or simply the second channel) based on the determined first wireless channel, second direct transmission, and indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the secondary UE 112 and the wireless network node 120. Therefore, the primary UE 110 can use the information from step 214 and prior knowledge of the third channel (where the third channel is between the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112) to decode signals jointly received from the direct link with the wireless network node 120 and the indirect link from the wireless network node 120 to the secondary UE 112 and from the secondary UE 112 further to the primary UE 110. The extracted information is related to the second channel between the wireless network node 120 and the secondary UE 112, and this is the information that needs to be traced.

[0044] Channel-related information can be the channel's response in the frequency or time domain, and this information can be used to extract the signal's angle of arrival / departure, propagation delay on the direct path, and / or multipath information. These can then be compared with past estimates, and the following differences can be calculated: the difference in angle of arrival between two different instances, the difference in departure angle between two instances, and the difference in delay between two instances. Then, using displacement information (inferred from the delay difference) or rotation information (inferred from the angle of arrival difference), the changes in the position and orientation of the auxiliary UE 112 can be updated.

[0045] At step 226, the primary UE 110 may send information related to the second wireless channel to the wireless network node 120. Alternatively or additionally, the primary UE 110 may utilize information related to the second wireless channel itself.

[0046] In some example embodiments, the wireless network node 120 may configure both the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112 using information relating to at least one first time slot (D-slot) and at least one second time slot (DR-slot). Since the determination at step 224 depends on prior knowledge of at least one first time slot (D-slot) measured at step 214, the wireless network node 120 may configure at least one first time slot and at least one second time slot to be within the channel coherence time of the first channel. For example, the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112 may be paired XR devices that are close to each other, and therefore, the channel parameters may be correlated. That is, the wireless network node 120 may ensure the success of the determination at step 224, or at least increase the probability of such success, by configuring at least one first time slot and at least one second time slot to be sufficiently close in time to ensure that the first channel can be considered quasi-static. In other words, at least one first uplink transmission time period for the first direct transmission and at least one second uplink transmission time period for the second direct and indirect transmissions may be configured in conjunction with the time selectivity of the first channel.

[0047] In some example embodiments, at least one first time slot and at least one second time slot can be two distinct demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) transmissions (or equivalents of DM-RS in 6G). For example, in 5G, the DM-RS configuration can have multiple instances within a 5G time slot. This can be done for high-speed scenarios and rapidly changing channels. Such DM-RS transmissions can then be located in different symbols within the 5G time slot.

[0048] Figure 3 A second signaling diagram according to at least some example embodiments is shown. The signaling is arranged from left to right on the vertical axis. Figure 1 The wireless network node 120, primary UE 110, and secondary UE 112. Time progresses from top to bottom. Figure 3 In the example, at least one second time slot (DR-slot) configuration for the secondary UE 112 can be delegated by the radio network node 120 to the primary UE 110.

[0049] Step 302 can correspond to Figure 2Step 202. That is, at step 302, the radio network node 120 can trigger a communication session, such as J / ICAS, toward the primary UE 110. At step 304, the radio network node 120 can send a configuration to the primary UE 110, which includes at least one first downlink slot (D-slot) but does not include at least one second downlink slot (DR-slot). In some example embodiments, the radio network node 120 can give an explicit instruction to the primary UE 110 to configure the secondary UE 112 with at least one second downlink slot (DR-slot).

[0050] At step 306, the primary UE 110 may send a configuration to the secondary UE 112, which includes at least one additional downlink slot (DR-slot) but not at least one downlink slot (D-slot). In some example embodiments, the primary UE 110 may perform a kinetic link estimation, i.e., determine information related to the channel between the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112. Steps 308-312 may respectively correspond to Figure 2 Steps 208-212. That is, step 308 can correspond to step 208; step 310 can correspond to step 210; and step 312 can correspond to step 212. More specifically, at step 308, the wireless network node 120 can send a first direct transmission to the primary UE 110 in at least one first time slot (D-slot). At step 310, the first direct transmission can also reach the secondary UE 112. At step 312, the secondary UE 112 can take no action and remain silent (e.g., determine to take no action and remain silent). Step 314 can include steps 214-226.

[0051] Figure 4 A third signaling diagram according to at least some example embodiments is shown. The signaling is arranged from left to right on the vertical axis. Figure 1 The wireless network node 120, primary UE 110, and secondary UE 112. Time progresses from top to bottom. Figure 4 In the example, the quasi-static nature of the channel from wireless network node 120 to primary UE 110 and secondary UE 112 can be ensured.

[0052] In some example embodiments, the tethered link portion of the relay path (the third channel, where the third channel is between primary UE 110 and secondary UE 112) can be assumed to have low latency and known gain. This process can be triggered during J / ICAS configuration or determined and updated independently of JCAS configuration.

[0053] The tethered link may be expected to have a longer coherence time. However, this is not mandatory. The second DR-slot may need to be within the coherence time of the first channel (the channel between radio network node 120 and primary UE 110), and the tethered link estimation (whenever it is performed) and the second DR-slot may need to be within the coherence time of the third channel (i.e., the tethered link). Therefore, the third tethered channel can have a shorter coherence time than the first channel, as long as the estimation is performed within the coherence time of the first channel.

[0054] Steps 402-404 can respectively include Figure 2 Steps 202-206. That is, step 402 can correspond to step 202; step 403 can correspond to step 204; and step 404 can correspond to step 206. More specifically, at step 402, the radio network node 120 can trigger a communication session, such as J / ICAS, between the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112. At step 403, the radio network node 120 can send a configuration to the primary UE 110, wherein the configuration can be used to receive at least one first downlink time slot (D-slot) and at least one second downlink time slot (DR-slot). At step 404, the radio network node 120 can send a configuration to the secondary UE 112.

[0055] At step 406, the primary UE 110 can determine the linkage channel, that is, determine information related to the third channel, wherein the third channel is between the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112. Steps 408-412 can respectively correspond to Figure 2 Steps 208-212. That is, at step 408, the wireless network node 120 may send a first direct transmission to the primary UE 110 in at least one first time slot (D-slot). At step 410, the first direct transmission may also reach the secondary UE 112. At step 412, the secondary UE 112 may take no action and remain silent (e.g., determine to take no action and remain silent). Step 414 may include steps 214-226.

[0056] Alternatively, in some example embodiments, in Figure 3 At step 306, the primary UE 110 may perform third-link channel estimation during the optional configuration of the secondary UE 112.

[0057] In some example embodiments, the configuration for time slots (D-slot and DR-slot) may also include other configuration parameters that enable or improve performance. For example, typical communication between radio network node 120 and primary UE 110 may utilize a high-directivity beam. If high-gain beamforming is used for primary UE 110, the power collected from secondary UE 112 may be too low. Therefore, in some example embodiments, a wide beam may be selected to cover both primary UE 110 and secondary UE 112 during transmission in time slots (D-slot and DR-slot) to ensure a meaningful power level during sample collection.

[0058] In other words, the first and second direct transmissions can be beamformed to cover the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112. The first and second direct transmissions can be configured to have sufficient power (for decoding / retransmission) at both UEs. Insufficient power may depend on factors such as path loss, RF capability, etc. The objective may be that the beam used should not result in zero power at either the primary UE 110 or the secondary UE 110. Since the first radio channel between the primary UE 110 and the radio network node 120 can be learned during at least one first time slot (D-slot) and used later, it is required that the first radio channel remain identical for at least one second time slot (DR-slot). Even if at least one first time slot and at least one second time slot are within the channel coherence time of the first channel, changes in the beam from the radio network node 120 may result in a perceived channel difference. Therefore, changes to the beam used for transmissions in at least one first time slot and at least one second time slot can be prohibited (or at least restricted).

[0059] In some example embodiments, relay operation at the secondary UE 112 can occur within the sampling time of the primary UE 110. The third-party link delay can be significantly less than the delay spread from the radio network node 120 to the primary UE 110 and secondary UE 112, making the third-party link delay negligible. This ensures reception within the sampling time of the primary UE 110. This fast relay can be implemented using pure RF relay functionality, i.e., amplification and forwarding. However, some additional processing can be added at the secondary UE 112.

[0060] In some example embodiments, a similar process can be applied to the uplink. In this case, the wireless network node 120 can receive a first direct transmission from the primary UE 110 in at least one first uplink timeslot. The wireless network node 120 can also receive a second direct transmission from the primary UE 110 in at least one second uplink timeslot, and receive an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission from the primary UE 110 via the secondary UE 112. The wireless network node 120 can then determine information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the wireless network node 120 and the primary UE 110. The wireless network node 120 can also determine information relating to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information relating to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless network node 120 and the secondary UE 112. The wireless network node 120 can use the information relating to the second wireless channel to track user equipment. In the uplink case, the wireless network node 120 may be referred to as an apparatus, and the primary UE 110 may be referred to as a wireless device.

[0061] In some example embodiments, the primary UE 110 may send information related to a third channel to the wireless network node, wherein the third channel is between the primary UE 110 and the secondary UE 112. The wireless network node 120 may then determine information related to a second wireless channel based on the information related to the third channel.

[0062] Figure 5Example apparatuses capable of supporting at least some of the example embodiments are illustrated. Device 500 is shown, which may include, for example, a primary UE 110, a secondary UE 112, or a wireless network node 120, or a control device configured to control the functionality of device 500 when possibly installed in device 500. Device 500 includes a processor 510, which may include, for example, a single-core or multi-core processor, wherein a single-core processor includes one processing core, and a multi-core processor includes more than one processing core. Processor 510 typically includes a control device. Processor 510 may include more than one processor. Processor 510 may be a control device. Processing cores may include, for example, a Cortex-A8 processing core manufactured by ARM Holdings, or a Steamroller processing core manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices Corporation. Processor 510 may include at least one Qualcomm Snapdragon and / or Intel Atom processor. Processor 510 may include at least one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Processor 510 may include at least one field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Processor 510 may be a component in device 500 for performing method steps. Processor 510 may be configured, at least in part, by computer instructions to perform actions.

[0063] A processor may include, or be configured as, one or more circuit systems configured to perform stages of the methods according to the example embodiments described herein. As used herein, the term “circuit system” may refer to one or more of the following: (a) a hardware circuit implementation only (such as an implementation in an analog and / or digital circuit system only), and (b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software, such as (if applicable): (i) a combination of (multiple) analog and / or (multiple) digital hardware circuitry with software / firmware, and (ii) any part of (multiple) hardware processors (including (multiple) digital signal processors), software, and (multiple) memories having software working together to enable a device (such as a mobile phone or server) to perform various functions, and (c) (multiple) hardware circuitry and / or (multiple) processors that require software (e.g., firmware) to operate (but which may not exist when operation is not required), such as (multiple) microprocessors or portions thereof.

[0064] This definition of circuit system applies to all uses of the term in this application, including in any claim. As another example, as used herein, the term circuit system also covers implementations of only hardware circuitry or processors (or processors in general) or portions thereof and their accompanying software and / or firmware. For instance, if applicable to a particular claim element, the term circuit system also covers baseband integrated circuits or processor integrated circuits for mobile devices, or similar integrated circuits in servers, cellular network devices, or other computing or network devices.

[0065] Device 500 may include memory 520. Memory 520 may include random access memory and / or permanent memory. Memory 520 may include at least one RAM chip. For example, memory 520 may include solid-state, magnetic, optical, and / or holographic memory. Memory 520 may be at least partially accessible by processor 510. Memory 520 may be at least partially included in processor 510. Memory 520 may be a component for storing information. Memory 520 may include computer instructions, which processor 510 is configured to execute. When computer instructions configured to cause processor 510 to perform certain actions are stored in memory 520, and device 500 as a whole is configured to operate under the guidance of processor 510 using computer instructions from memory 520, processor 510 and / or at least one of its processing cores may be considered to be configured to perform certain actions. Memory 520 may be at least partially included in processor 510. Memory 520 may be at least partially external to device 500, but accessible by device 500.

[0066] Device 500 may include a transmitter 530. Device 500 may include a receiver 540. Transmitter 530 and receiver 540 may be configured to transmit and receive information according to at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Transmitter 530 may include more than one transmitter. Receiver 540 may include more than one receiver. For example, transmitter 530 and / or receiver 540 may be configured to operate according to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and / or 5G / NR standards.

[0067] Device 500 may include a near-field communication (NFC) transceiver 550. The NFC transceiver 550 may support at least one NFC technology, such as Bluetooth, Wibree, or similar technologies.

[0068] Device 500 may include a user interface (UI) 560. UI 560 may include at least one of the following: a display, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a vibrator arranged to signal to the user by causing device 500 to vibrate, a speaker, and a microphone. The user may be able to operate device 500 via UI 560, for example, to accept incoming telephone calls, initiate telephone or video calls, browse the internet, manage digital files stored in memory 520 or accessible in the cloud via transmitter 530 and receiver 540 or via NFC transceiver 550, and / or play games.

[0069] Device 500 may include or be arranged to receive a user identity module 570. User identity module 570 may include, for example, a subscriber identity module SIM card that can be installed in device 500. User identity module 570 may include subscription information identifying the user of device 500. User identity module 570 may include password information that can be used to verify the identity of the user of device 500, and / or can be used to support encryption of transmitted information and billing of the user of device 500 for communications conducted via device 500.

[0070] Processor 510 may be equipped with a transmitter arranged to output information from processor 510 to other devices included in device 500 via electrical leads within device 500. Such a transmitter may include a serial bus transmitter arranged to output information to memory 520 for storage, for example, via at least one electrical lead. Alternatively, the transmitter may include a parallel bus transmitter. Similarly, processor 510 may include a receiver arranged to receive information from other devices included in device 500 via electrical leads within device 500. Such a receiver may include a serial bus receiver arranged to receive information from receiver 540, for example, via at least one electrical lead, for processing within processor 510. Alternatively, the receiver may include a parallel bus receiver.

[0071] Device 500 may include Figure 5 Other devices not shown. For example, in the case where device 500 includes a smartphone, it may include at least one digital camera. Some devices 500 may include a rear camera and a front camera, wherein the rear camera may be designed for digital photography and the front camera for video calling. Device 500 may include a fingerprint sensor arranged to at least partially authenticate the user of device 500. In some example embodiments, device 500 does not include at least one of the above-described devices. For example, some devices 500 may not include an NFC transceiver 550 and / or a user identity module 570.

[0072] Processor 510, memory 520, transmitter 530, receiver 540, NFC transceiver 550, UI 560, and / or user identity module 570 can be interconnected in various ways via electrical leads within device 500. For example, each of the aforementioned devices can be individually connected to the main bus within device 500 to allow the devices to exchange information. However, as those skilled in the art will understand, this is merely an example, and various ways of interconnecting at least two of the aforementioned devices may be chosen depending on the exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiment.

[0073] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of a first method according to at least some example embodiments.

[0074] The first method may include, at step 610, receiving a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first downlink transmission period. The first method may further include, at step 620, receiving a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second downlink transmission period. The first method may further include, at step 630, determining information related to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the device and the wireless device. The first method may further include, at step 640, determining information related to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information related to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment. Finally, the first method may include, at step 650, sending information related to the second wireless channel to the wireless device. The device may be a primary UE 110, and the wireless device may be a wireless network node 120.

[0075] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of a second method based on at least some example embodiments.

[0076] The second method may include: at step 710, the device receiving a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first uplink transmission time period. The second method may further include: at step 720, the device receiving a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second uplink transmission time period. The second method may further include: at step 730, the device determining information related to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the device and the wireless device. The second method may further include: at step 740, the device determining information related to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information related to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the device and the user equipment. Finally, the second method may include: at step 750, the device using the information related to the second wireless channel to track the user equipment.

[0077] It should be understood that the disclosed example embodiments are not limited to the specific structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to their equivalents, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0078] Throughout this specification, any reference to an exemplary embodiment or an exemplary embodiment implies that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the exemplary embodiment is included in at least one exemplary embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one exemplary embodiment" or "in an exemplary embodiment" appearing in various places throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same exemplary embodiment. Where numerical values ​​are mentioned using terms such as approximately or substantially, precise numerical values ​​are also disclosed.

[0079] As used herein, for convenience, multiple items, structural elements, constituent elements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list. However, these lists should be interpreted as if each member of the list were individually identified as a separate and unique member. Therefore, without indication to the contrary, no individual member of such a list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in the common group. Furthermore, various exemplary embodiments and examples may be mentioned herein along with alternatives to their various components. It should be understood that such exemplary embodiments, examples, and alternatives should not be construed as de facto equivalents of each other, but should be considered as separate and autonomous representations.

[0080] In example embodiments, an apparatus such as a primary UE 110, a secondary UE 112, or a wireless network node 120 may include components for performing the example embodiments described above and any combination thereof.

[0081] In exemplary embodiments, a computer program may be configured to cause a method according to the above exemplary embodiments and any combination thereof. In exemplary embodiments, a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium may be configured to control a processor to perform processes including the above exemplary embodiments and any combination thereof.

[0082] In example embodiments, an apparatus such as a primary UE 110, a secondary UE 112, or a wireless network node 120 may include at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, together with the at least one processor, to enable the apparatus to perform at least the example embodiments described above and any combination thereof.

[0083] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more exemplary embodiments. In the foregoing description, numerous specific details, such as examples of length, width, shape, etc., are provided to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that this disclosure can be practiced without one or more specific details, or using other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations have not been shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of this disclosure.

[0084] While the foregoing examples illustrate the principles of exemplary embodiments in one or more specific applications, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made to the form, use, and details of the implementations without inventive effort and without departing from the principles and concept of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited except by the set forth claims.

[0085] The verbs “comprising” and “including” are used herein as open-ended restrictions, neither excluding nor requiring the presence of any unlisted features. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the features recited in the dependent claims may be freely combined with each other. Furthermore, it should be understood that throughout this document, the use of “a” or “an” (i.e., the singular form) does not exclude a plurality.

[0086] Industrial applicability At least some example implementations have found industrial applications in cellular communication networks, such as in 3GPP networks.

[0087] List of acronyms

[0088] List of reference numerals

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: At least one processor; as well as At least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to at least: - Receive a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first downlink transmission time period; - Receive a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second downlink transmission period; - Information relating to a first wireless channel is determined based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the device and the wireless equipment; - Based at least on the information determined in relation to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, information in relation to a second wireless channel is determined, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment; and - Send the information relating to the second wireless channel to the wireless device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: - During the channel coherence time of the first wireless channel, the first direct transmission is received during the at least one first downlink transmission time period, and the second direct transmission and the indirect transmission are received during the at least one second downlink transmission time period.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one first downlink transmission time period for the first direct transmission and the at least one second downlink transmission time period for the second direct transmission and the indirect transmission are configured with respect to the time selectivity of the first wireless channel.

4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: - During the sampling time of the device, the first direct transmission is received during the at least one first downlink transmission time period, and the second direct transmission and the indirect transmission are received during the at least one second downlink transmission time period.

5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first direct transmission and the second direct transmission are beamformed to cover the apparatus and the user equipment.

6. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is another user equipment and the wireless device is a wireless network node.

7. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: - Receive configuration from the wireless device for receiving transmissions during the at least one first downlink transmission period and the at least one second downlink transmission period.

8. An apparatus comprising: At least one processor; as well as At least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to at least: - Receive a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first uplink transmission time period; - Receive a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second uplink transmission period; - Information relating to a first wireless channel is determined based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the device and the wireless equipment; - Based at least on the information determined in relation to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, information in relation to the second wireless channel is determined, wherein the second wireless channel is between the device and the user equipment; as well as - Use the information related to the second wireless channel to track the user equipment.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: - During the channel coherence time of the first wireless channel, the first direct transmission is received during the at least one first uplink transmission time period, and the second direct transmission and the indirect transmission are received during the at least one second uplink transmission time period.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the at least one first uplink transmission time period for the first direct transmission and the at least one second uplink transmission time period for the second direct transmission and the indirect transmission are configured with respect to the time selectivity of the first channel.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: - During the sampling time of the device, the first direct transmission is received during the at least one first uplink transmission time period, and the second direct transmission and the indirect transmission are received during the at least one second uplink transmission time period.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the first direct transmission and the second direct transmission are beamformed to cover the wireless device and the user equipment.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the apparatus is a wireless network node and the wireless device is another user equipment.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: - Send the configuration to the wireless device for transmission during the at least one first uplink transmission period and the at least one second uplink transmission period.

15. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: - Receive information relating to a third channel, wherein the third channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment to be tracked; and - Based on the information relating to the third channel, determine the information relating to the second wireless channel.

16. A method comprising: The device receives a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first downlink transmission time period; The device receives a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second downlink transmission time period; The device determines information related to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the device and the wireless device; The device determines information related to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information related to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment; as well as The device sends the information related to the second wireless channel to the wireless device.

17. A method comprising: The device receives a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first uplink transmission time period; The device receives a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second uplink transmission time period; The device determines information related to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the device and the wireless device; The device determines information related to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information related to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the device and the user equipment; as well as The device uses the information related to the second wireless channel to track the user equipment.

18. An apparatus comprising: Components for receiving a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first downlink transmission time period; A component for receiving, during at least one second downlink transmission period, a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked; Components for determining information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the device and the wireless equipment; Components for determining information related to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information related to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the wireless device and the user equipment; as well as Components for transmitting the information relating to the second wireless channel to the wireless device.

19. An apparatus comprising: Components for receiving a first direct transmission from a wireless device during at least one first uplink transmission time period; Components for receiving a second direct transmission from the wireless device and an indirect transmission of the second direct transmission to the wireless device via a user equipment to be tracked during at least one second uplink transmission time period; Components for determining information relating to a first wireless channel based on the first direct transmission, wherein the first wireless channel is between the device and the wireless equipment; Components for determining information related to a second wireless channel based at least on the determined information related to the first wireless channel, the second direct transmission, and the indirect transmission, wherein the second wireless channel is between the device and the user equipment; as well as Components for using the information related to the second wireless channel to track the user equipment.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer-readable instruction set, which, when executed by at least one processor, causes a device to perform at least the method according to claim 16 or 17.

21. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform the method according to claim 16 or 17.

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